Short Wedding Dress UK: 12 Stunning Above-the-Knee Options

Photography by Wildling Weddings

Gone are the days when long, billowing, and, dare we say, modest dresses were the norm. It’s the 21st century and anything goes – including the length of your bridal gown.

Whether you favour something mid-length, such as a swingin’ 60s dress that grazes the kneecap, or something shorter to make your mother-in-law gasp – we’ve got the best of the best right here.

Mini Wedding Dresses

The miniskirt/dress dates back to circa 1963, with fashionistas largely crediting designer Mary Quant for the radical garment that revolutionised fashion as we know it and marked the end of women’s clothing being, for the most part, conservative.

The great thing about mini wedding dresses (as well as being waaaay more wallet-friendly than floor-length gowns) is they offer so much by way of style.

For example, you can opt for a mini dress with a puffy skirt (think tulle and feeling like a ballerina all day), something a little more demure, such as a pencil skirt, or something figure-hugging with a split up the thigh. Ooh la la!

Some of our favourite options include:

Mini Flower Lace Wedding Dress | A Line Corset Wedding Dress

Ranging from size 2 to 28 – plus with customisation options – this insanely adorable mini wedding dress By RadiantRomanceCo is ideal for all sizes and shapes.

As well as being super feminine, this dress also encapsulates a playful and innocent-yet-sexy feel and is perfect for summer weddings.

We can’t get enough of the sexy lace corset feature and the flowiness of the skirt, which will make for some fun twirling on the dancefloor!

The boutique is also a small, indie, UK-based company, and we love supporting local here at Wildling Weddings!

Made With Love - Style: Alexandra

Given our Scottish dwelling, we have a particular softness towards Scotland-based bridal designers and boutiques, and the Glasgow-based company, The White Collection (which also has a store in Bristol, England) has plenty of beautiful gowns to offer.

This iridescent short wedding dress By The White Collection is super glam and sexy – and we love the 1980s cocktail party feel of the off-the-shoulder sleeves.

Couple this with a stunning headdress and a killer pair of heels and your wedding look will go down in style history!

Beaded Mini Wedding Dress

This statement minidress By Zion Clothier is giving us huge Mother of Dragons vibes and will certainly stand out as more than just an average wedding dress.

We can’t get enough of the pearl bedecked bodice and absolutely love the floral motifs along the chest and sleeves.

Also, for those wanting to forsake the traditional white gown colour, this beautiful number also comes in gold, wine, emerald green, navy blue, and pink.

Photography by Wildling Weddings

Short Sexy Wedding Dresses

Forget mindful, forget demure. How about very sexy, very cheeky?!

Traditionally, wedding gowns were supposed to be white to represent innocence and virginity and were rather modest. But we say, heck tradition!

You don’t need long sweeping gowns to be the bell of the ball (or in this case, your wedding!). These sexy short wedding dresses will certainly have your spouse looking forward to the wedding night….

White Short Corset Wedding Dress

This gorgeous minidress By TSARSKAYA CORSET oozes sexiness without sacrificing an ounce of class and sophistication.

We love the simplicity of the simple spaghetti straps coupled with the subtly raunchy corset and the fun and frilly skirt.

Coming in an array of simple sizes (S, M, L, etc.), as well as a custom sizing option, this dainty little ditty has a wide range of cup sizes for all manner of lady lump sizes.

We particularly love that this dress is designed to accentuate natural curves, offering a sexy ‘hourglass’ look with the traditional corset feature.

Creamy Mini Wedding Dress

It’s hard to pick just one feature about this stylish minidress that we class as a ‘favourite’ but if we had to it would absolutely be the bow that doubles as a veil! How resourceful!

This strappy wedding dress By Oliva Oceana gives us a warm 90s nostalgic glow with its simple chicness. Yet, despite that, it is short and very, very sexy!

The dress also comes in two colour options (white and cream) – both of which are just heavenly!

Photography by Wildling Weddings

Short White Dress CAMI Mini Wedding Dress

Nothing is sexier than a short satin dress. Fact.

Made with mikado and featuring a stunning strapless bodice, this dress By Unona Shop features a statement A-line skirt and is ideal for a beach wedding – or any wedding, really!

Also, owing to the style of the skirt, this dress is ideal for those wanting to show off those pins!

Tulle Wedding Dress, White Cocktail Tutu Dress, A-line Wedding Dress

A dress doesn’t have to be super short to be sexy. On the contrary, this mid-length polka dot mesh number oozes sauciness while modestly grazing the knees.

The sexiest element of this dress By APLine Store is, without a doubt, the thin, transparent mesh bodice and the bust feature, which is designed to look like a bra. We love that the shoulder straps feature cute ‘n’ fun tulle bows, too.

Tonnes of fun and sexy as hell!

Sparkly Mini Wedding Dress

Ready to sparkle the night away?!

This 1920s art deco-style dress By Larine Bridal is emblazoned with hundreds of beautiful ivory-coloured beads, all stitched to make an intricate design sure to turn heads.

As well as the beads, this dress features glitter tulle, sequins, and CRYSTAL! Perfect for the bride who wants to dazzle like a diamond!

Cute Short Wedding Dresses

Babydoll wedding dress with deep V neckline

Opting for a short wedding dress doesn’t mean sacrificing an abundance of gorgeous intricate lace details. No, ma’am.

Featuring a backless v-shape and a deep, plunging v neckline, this knee-length wedding dress By BrideAndStyle is sexy and classy all rolled into one.

The dress features a pearly tulle skirt and a floral v-neck bursting with gorgeous lace patterns – of which are embroidered by hand. This babydoll dress is a teensy bit daring and a whole lot of fun!

Short Puffy Wedding Dresses

Bring on the ruffles!

Puff Sleeves Bridal Dress

We love a puff dress! Whether it’s puff sleeves or a puff skirt – we’re all about the puff!

Also, you don’t need to show off heaps of skin to rock a short wedding dress. And short wedding dresses don’t need to be exclusive to warmer weather weddings.

This 100%-silk dress By Handmade Dresses UA features both puffy sleeves and a puffy skirt, allowing for a little top-half cover up – ideal for those having an autumn or winter wedding.

Also, with sizes ranging from XS to XXXL, this style of dress suits everyone!

Chic Short Boho Wedding Dress Off-The-Shoulder

Those wanting only a little puff can indulge in this stunning off-the-shoulder dress, which features a ruffly top half and a simple ballerina skirt on the bottom.

The bouncy skirt By DiziBizi isn’t super short – it just grazes the knee – so it is ideal for those wanting a happy medium between a short dress and a long gown.

Many brides love a boho look for their big day and this dress offers just that, all while combining simple elegance with a touch of unconventional uniqueness.

Photography by Wildling Weddings

Modern Short Wedding Dresses

Lace Applique Short Wedding Dress With Long Sleeves

This gorgeous short frock By HTM Gifts puts a modern spin on a classic bridal look – full lace coverage of the chest and arms – marrying modesty with a little risqueness!

Every inch of this stylish dress is crafted from lace, and we can’t get enough of the floral design that snuggly drapes down the arms and onto the hands, giving almost a white flowery tattoo look.

Falling just above the knee, this dress is the perfect contemporary take on classic wedding fashion – bringing together the best of both worlds.

FAQs

Are short wedding dresses in style?

Absolutely, in fact, in August 2024, Vogue featured an in-depth article outlining how short wedding dresses are the ultimate solution for embodying simplicity with statement.

Is it okay to wear a short wedding dress?

Of course. Any style of dress is totally okay – there are no rules! Just be mindful that shorter dresses can come with a small set of challenges if the weather is bad. Think chilly legs and/or a ‘Marilyn Monroe moment’!

Are short wedding dresses appropriate?

Who cares?! It’s your special day – wear what you like.

Where to buy short wedding dresses?

We love to support local, indie businesses here at Wildling Weddings, and some of our favourite Scotland-based boutiques include: